Indian, US firms eye investment in Bangladesh, propose land port upgrades
Businesses from India and the US have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and made proposals to improve the country’s investment climate, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has said. Muktadir’s remarks on Saturday came after attending a meeting at the Sylhet Metropolitan Police headquarters. He also said that some Indian businesspeople who recently visited Bangladesh ...
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir announced on Saturday that Indian and US firms have shown interest in investing in Bangladesh and have suggested improvements to the country's investment environment. This news came after Muktadir attended a meeting at the Sylhet Metropolitan Police headquarters. He also highlighted that some Indian businessmen who recently visited Bangladesh have already started investing in the nation, according to the state-run BSS news agency.
The commerce minister's statements followed a 14-member delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry's visit to Bangladesh from August 17 to 19, with the aim of exploring opportunities for enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and industrial cooperation. Muktadir revealed that Indian businesspeople are keen on making the land ports between Bangladesh and India fully functional.
"They have mentioned that the closure or reduced operation of land ports raises the cost of raw materials for Indian businesses," he explained.
Indian business representatives have also put forward the idea of establishing a task force with Bangladeshi businesses to invest in infrastructure, as well as a trust with local businesses for developing digital infrastructure, Muktadir said, adding that the government has welcomed these proposals. A US trade delegation has also expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh and presented several proposals and suggestions for creating a more favorable investment climate, which the government is currently evaluating.
India is Bangladesh's second-largest trading partner in Asia, following China. In the 2025-26 fiscal year (up to February), India exported goods worth USD 9.73 billion to Bangladesh, while imports from Bangladesh amounted to USD 1.62 billion, resulting in a total bilateral trade of USD 11.35 billion during the period, as per official data.
Regarding Bangladesh's trade deficit, which currently exceeds USD 27 billion, Muktadir stated that the country has been importing more than it exports since gaining independence but emphasized the need to significantly expand overall trade. "We must increase the overall volume of trade - both exports and imports - many times over. The trade volume should be in line with the size of our economy," he asserted.
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